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Sage hadn't noticed Alessandro until he'd stepped into the room and announced himself. His gaze moved to glance towards him briefly, humming softly in agreement before looking back out the window. "Woke up and wasn't tired enough to go back to sleep," he noted, somewhat absentmindedly. At his question, though, Sage nodded, forcing himself to turn from the window and pad closer to Alessandro, taking a seat close to where he was placing the kettle on the oven. "Some. Took a bath and then passed out," he mused, recalling how the night had gone. "Dozed off in the tub once too," he admitted, the thought pulling a small chuckle from him. "You?" It was a small question, but one with care in it. Even if he wasn't entirely sure how Alessandro saw him, or what he wanted from him.....he still cared. He cared a lot. |
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Alessandro watched him turn from the window, noticed the way Sage moved closer without quite realizing he’d done it. That mattered more than the words. He listened without interrupting, nodding once at the mention of the bath, the dozing off. His mouth curved faintly at the chuckle—brief, almost private. “Good thing the tub didn’t win,” he said quietly. Not teasing. Just… grounding. When Sage asked about him, Alessandro didn’t answer right away. He lifted the kettle, setting it more precisely on the burner than strictly necessary, buying himself a second. Honesty came easier than softness, but he didn’t dodge the question. “Not much,” he said at last. “A few hours, maybe. I stopped trying.” He glanced at Sage then, really looked at him—barefaced, tired, still showing up anyway. “My brain doesn’t shut off easily,” he added, tone even. “Never has.” The burner clicked on. A low flame bloomed beneath the kettle. Alessandro rested one hand on the counter near Sage—not touching, but close enough to be felt. Present. “But I’m used to it,” he said, then amended quietly, “Doesn’t mean it’s ideal.” His gaze softened, just a fraction. “If you’re cold, there are blankets in the den. Or you can stay here. Coffee helps pretend the world makes sense.” A pause. “And… I’m glad you came down,” he added, voice low, unassuming. Not pressure. Just truth. He stayed there with him as the kettle began to warm, the silence between them no longer empty—just shared. |
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Sage felt the corner of his mouth twitch upwards when Alessandro mentioned the tub not winning. "If I lost a fight to a tub I think I'd be embarrassed enough about it to come back to life," he noted somewhat dryly. Tiredly. But the twinge of amusement was there. He noted the pause after his question, the way the other man fiddled with the burner for a little longer than necessary. That told him what he needed to know. Still, he appreciated the honesty when Alessandro admitted to only getting a few hours of sleep. He just nodded along with a soft hum. "Yeah," he just noted. He understood how that worked. Alessandro had survived by keeping his brain alive. Awake at all times. Sage had survived by learning how to shut his off in a moments notice. Not focus on anything, disengage from reality. When he mentioned blankets in the den, sages gaze wandered in that direction, nodding along. A blanket would be nice. The clothes Ale had put in the room for him were comfortable, and fit his style, but....well, he got cold easy. And the sudden loss of body heat from Alessandro last night didn't help much, he supposed. Even blitz couldn't fix that. At his comment, he nodded along, glancing down at his barely touched coffee. "No appetite," he admitted. "Not yet. Gotta wake up some more first," he added with a sigh. He knew he had to eat something....so hopefully he'd get the appetite in a bit. For now though, the idea of food wasn't a great one. His last comment pulled a soft smile from him though, and he nodded. He didn't respond with words ..he didn't need to. The silence between them was comfortable. Peaceful, in a way only a soft morning could be. Almost domestic. After a bit though, he did speak up again. "I was thinking about going shopping at some point soon. Picking up a few other outfits," he noted, glancing at the man beside him to see if that was alright. He'd need him to drive, of course, and use his money...Which he still felt a bit guilty about. |
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Alessandro listened, eyes on the slow curl of steam beginning to ghost from the kettle. The tub comment earned a quiet huff of breath—his version of a laugh this early in the morning. “Good,” he said. “I’d hate to explain that one.” He caught the way Sage glanced toward the den, filed it away without comment. Blankets would appear there later whether Sage asked or not. When Sage mentioned shopping, Alessandro turned fully toward him, resting a hip against the counter. There was no hesitation in his answer—only consideration. “That’s fine,” he said easily. “Actually… it might be good.” He reached into his pocket, movements unhurried, and produced a sleek black card. No ceremony. No weight to it beyond its usefulness. He held it out between two fingers and set it lightly on the counter in front of Sage. “Buy whatever you want,” he said. “Clothes, shoes, things you forgot you like. Don’t overthink it.” Before Sage could protest—because Alessandro knew he would—he continued, tone calm but final. “It’s not a loan. It’s not a favor. It’s logistics.” He straightened, glancing briefly toward the hallway as if already planning the day. “If you’re comfortable being out without me hovering, Matteo can take you. He’s my chauffeur—has been since I was young. I trust him completely.” A pause, then a sideways look back at Sage. “He won’t pry. Won’t rush you.” Then, softer, more personal: “But if you’d rather I come with you, I can drive. Or sit on a bench and pretend I don’t have opinions.” The corner of his mouth twitched. Almost a smile. “Your call,” he finished, voice steady. “I’m not going anywhere.” |
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Sage had nodded when Alessandro agreed he could go shopping, glancing back down at the coffee cup at he raised it to his lips, appetite beginning to appear the longer he sat there. Alessandro was t finished though, and when the card was set down in front of him, his eyes wide ed slightly, recognizing it for what it was. "Ale, I can't just take this, it's -" Alessandro had cut him off then, and while he still felt a little guilty about spending his money, he knew having his own card was, in fact, logistics. Alessandro had plenty of money, he wouldn't make even a small dent in it, even with the medicine and such. So he let out a soft breath before setting the coffee down and picking the card up, running his thumb over the name there. His name. Alessandro really didn't need to go this far, but he did appreciate it. The card was slipped into his pocket, and he picked up the coffee again, looking back over at Alessandro with a soft smile. "Thanks," he noted, cocking his head slightly when Alessandro mentioned the chauffeur. "I'd like it if you tagged along," he admitted. Not because he wasn't comfortable, but because he just wanted to spend time with Alessandro. "But if you have work to do I won't keep you," he added, knowing he did actually have things to do, while Sage didn't. With Alessandro, he'd probably never need to work for a living again. He'd be taken care of here. The thought did warm him slightly, but suddenly he was cautious. He'd need a plan for if something happened. If alessandro didn't want him anymore. If he grew bored of him. If this life was suddenly no longer an option. |
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Alessandro watched every flicker of expression cross Sage’s face—the reflexive guilt, the calculation, the acceptance that followed. He said nothing while Sage traced the lettering on the card. That moment mattered. Letting him choose mattered. When Sage looked back up and thanked him, Alessandro inclined his head once. “You’re welcome,” he said simply, as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world. At the admission—that he wanted Alessandro to come along—something in Alessandro’s chest eased. He reached for his own mug, took a measured sip, then set it aside untouched. Work could wait. Most things could. “I’ll come,” he said, without hesitation. “Matteo can drive us. That way you don’t have to worry about crowds, parking, or me getting impatient.” A beat. “And I won’t bring work with me.” He stepped closer, close enough that Sage could feel his presence without being crowded. Alessandro’s gaze softened—not indulgent, not possessive, just steady. Anchoring. “You don’t have to earn your place here,” he said quietly, as if answering thoughts Sage hadn’t voiced. “You’re not on a timer. I don’t keep people around because they’re useful or entertaining.” He didn't keep people around much at all. He was being selfish for once, having Sage in his house when he typically wouldn't let people in. But, Sage was special. His hand lifted, hesitated for half a second, then settled at Sage’s lower back—warm, grounding. “If one day you decide you want something else, want to leave” he continued, voice even, “we’ll plan for it. You won’t be stranded. You won’t be left with nothing.” A pause. Then, more gently: “But today isn’t that day.” He drew his hand back, already moving toward the hallway. “Finish your coffee. I’ll have Matteo bring the car around. Take your time.” |
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Sage felt something warmer appear in his chest when Alessandro said he'd come so quickly. It was almost like he wanted to come, but hadn't wanted to ask. Well, that was alright. Sage would want him at his side as often as he could spare it. When he mentioned matteo driving, he nodded, agreeing that it would be the best option. "I'd like to get there and back before it gets too busy," he agreed, knowing it would keep him much calmer. Less likely to trigger anything. He hadn't expected Alessandro to know what he was thinking, so he was a little surprised when he promised he didn't keep people here until he was bored of them. He glanced up at him, brows furrowing slightly as he talked. It was a good speech but....Casper had said much the same thing. The soft rest of the hand on his back made the difference. The tension in his shoulders drained away, a smile forming on his face. He nodded, knowing he was being given the option to leave if he ever wanted to, and that he wouldn't just be hung out to dry. It was reassuring. He nodded as he was told to finish the coffee, taking another few minutes to finish it and then move to his own room to quickly toss on some eyeliner. Throw his hair into a braid. Nothing much, he still didn't have a ton of energy for that sort of thing. He left the earrings out too, admittedly excited to get out and do something normal. And alessandro would be with him. The other man was waiting by the doors to the house, so sage slipped up to him and took his arm with a soft hum and nod when he asked if he was ready. He kept a hold of him as they walked to the car, before he slid into his normal seat, leaning room for alessandro beside him |
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Alessandro noticed it immediately—the way Sage’s posture eased when he agreed, the subtle warmth that settled into his expression when Alessandro said he’d come quickly. He didn’t comment on it. He rarely commented on things he intended to keep. He merely nodded at Sage’s agreement about Matteo driving, already reaching for his phone to send the brief instruction. Early. In and out. Minimal exposure. It wasn’t just kindness; it was strategy. Alessandro had built an empire on knowing when pressure broke people. He felt the shift immediately. Shoulders loosening. Breath evening out. Good. “You’re not a prisoner, well not anymore. And I do apologize for keeping you as such before. I told my people to interrogate and imprison any of Casper's people, which included you” Alessandro said quietly, not sharply, not defensively. Just fact. “You’re here because you choose to be, truly. You can leave anytime you want. You could leave now if you so desire. That card has enough to sustain you two lifetimes over, and it's permanently yours. But I assume money is not what you desire. And if that ever changes, you leave standing. With resources. With protection. Not scraps.” He let that sit, then withdrew his hand as Sage finished his coffee, giving him space without retreating entirely. By the time Sage returned, eyeliner sharp enough to give him back some edge, hair braided and practical, Alessandro was waiting by the front doors exactly as promised. Jacket on. Keys in hand. Expression composed. Alessandro has changed into one of his many suits, this one a sleek navy. When Sage slipped up beside him and took his arm, Alessandro felt it—not as a jolt, not as panic, but as a quiet awareness. Something unfamiliar brushing the edges of his attention. He ignored the instinct to analyze it to death. There would be time for that later. Or not at all. “Ready?” he asked, already knowing the answer. He adjusted his pace to match Sage’s without thinking, guiding him down the steps and into the morning air. Matteo had the car waiting, engine already running, door opened before Alessandro even reached for it. Sage slid into his seat. Alessandro followed, close enough that their shoulders nearly brushed as the door shut and the world narrowed to leather, quiet, and forward motion. As the car pulled away, Alessandro rested his arm along the back of the seat—not touching, but there if needed—and watched the road ahead. Whatever this was becoming, he would handle it the same way he handled everything else. Carefully. Deliberately. And without letting it hurt Sage. |
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Sage had come to understand why he'd been a prisoner at first....that wasn't really an issue anymore. It was the future that concerned him. But he did trust alessandro, and he did appreciate the fact that he'd known enough to promise that even if things ended badly between them, he wouldn't just be thrown out like dinner scraps into the trash can and never thought of again. He slid into the car quickly, relaxing against the seat and just watching out the window as the car moved. He did catch matteo glance at his neck, which he knew still bore the marks from Alessandro's teeth the night before. It pulled a faint smile from him. The drive wasn't long, and his eyes widened when they pulled up to the doors of a very fancy looking store. He'd expected to go stop by like....a khols or Walmart or something. Not....whatever high end mall-like store front this was. He slid out of the car after alessandro, looking around with wide eyes. He'd latched onto his arm again, letting him lead the way through the doors and headed in the right direction. Sage himself clearly didn't know which way to go ...it was huge. |
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Alessandro caught Matteo’s glance in the rearview mirror the moment Sage settled in. The look flicked—professional, assessing—then lingered a fraction too long at Sage’s neck. Alessandro didn’t turn his head. He didn’t need to. His eyes lifted to the mirror, met Matteo’s, and held. Mine, the look said—not possessive in the crude sense, but unmistakably territorial.
Be respectful. Matteo’s gaze sharpened in response, a brow lifting just slightly. I see him, Matteo’s eyes replied. I see what he means to you. Alessandro’s jaw tightened a hair. Another silent message followed, colder. He’s fragile in ways you don’t see. No comments. No jokes. No assumptions. Matteo’s eyes softened almost imperceptibly. He gave the barest nod before returning his attention to the road. Understood. I’ll watch the room for him. That was all that needed to be said. When the car stopped and Alessandro stepped out, he was already scanning—entrances, exits, sightlines, reflections in glass. The storefront was immaculate, expensive, designed to intimidate anyone who didn’t belong. Alessandro belonged everywhere. Sage, he suspected, felt like he didn’t. He felt Sage latch onto his arm again the second they were on the sidewalk. Alessandro didn’t comment. He adjusted his stance instead, angling his body just enough to block the worst of the visual noise, slowing his pace so Sage wouldn’t feel dragged or lost. “You’re fine,” he said quietly, not looking down at him yet. “Just stay with me.” Inside, the space opened up—too open, too bright, too many choices. Alessandro felt the tension travel through Sage’s grip before Sage himself seemed aware of it. Alessandro finally glanced down at him, expression calm, assured, utterly unbothered by the opulence around them. And then, without breaking stride, he guided them forward—one hand steady, one presence unshakeable—already deciding how long they’d stay, which corners to avoid, and exactly how to get Sage back out again before the world asked too much of him. |
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Afternoon Storms, then Clearing
